A placement year is an opportunity to gain valuable work experience from an employer of your choice. Some courses might have compulsory placement years whereas others may be optional.
During your placement year – sometimes called a ‘year in industry’ – you’ll be supported by your university and will usually get access to campus support and resources.
The year’s work experience will put you in good stead for a bagging a top graduate role after university and many students use it as a chance to work abroad for a year.
Here are just a few top companies offering work placements in 2021:
L’Oréal

L’Oréal is the world’s largest cosmetics company. It owns 36 brands including Armani, Kiel’s, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Valentino and Lancôme.
It is the number one graduate employer in retail this year according to Rate My Placement and is present in over 150 countries.
Where placements are based:
Placements are mainly based in London, UK but there are opportunities to pursue internships in France, Singapore, the US and China.
What opportunities are on offer?
L’Oréal are offering placements across a range of departments. These include business development, commercial, corporate affairs, digital, events, finance, HR generalist, learning, marketing, PR, retail design, retail commercial and supply chain.
In 2021, L’Oréal will be paying work placement students £20,000 per year (approximately US$26,330).
Roles on offer include:
Marketing Industrial Placement 2021: London, UK
Finance Industrial Placement 2021: Llantrisant, Wales
6-month Business intelligence Analyst Internship: Paris, France
What they’re looking for:
L’Oréal say they’re looking for “determined achievers who are ready to throw themselves into major responsibilities from the start.”
Citi Group

Citi Group is an American multinational investment bank and financial services corporation, with headquarters in New York City. It’s the most popular student employer for investment banking this year according to Rate My Placement.
Where placements are based:
Citi Group offer a wide range of placement opportunities around the world, in Germany, Ireland, the UK, Sweden, France, Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the US.
What opportunities are on offer?
There are 21 placement roles on offer in 2021 at the time of writing. While the majority of these are related to investment banking, there are several for sales and marketing, operations and technology, and finance.
What they’re looking for:
They’re looking for a students with drive, commitment and a passion for learning.








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